Choose a complete pancake mix if you want to add very few ingredients to the batter for Christmas breakfast. A plain mix lets you choose the flavour with your toppings, while a cinnamon variety already has a flavour direction. Check what you still need to add for each variety. If you have allergies or need a gluten-free option, read the label on the exact pack you’re buying: needing to add only water says nothing about the allergens in the mix.
If you’re making pancakes for breakfast, brunch or guests, a mix that only needs water added to the batter can help keep preparation to a minimum. Check how many pancakes the pack makes and whether you’ll need cooking fat. The preparation instructions for Koopmans Compleet and PLUS Complete show why the specific variety matters.
Check the ingredients and allergen information for the pack you’ve chosen, rather than relying on words such as ‘complete’ or ‘gluten-free’. For example, the product information for Koopmans Glutenvrij states that this variety may contain egg and milk. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority points out that allergens in prepacked foods must be identifiable in the ingredients list.
A plain base gives you the freedom to finish your pancakes with sweet or savoury toppings. If cinnamon suits your baking plans, you could consider a cinnamon variety; just check which ingredients you need to add to the batter. Albert Heijn lists milk, eggs and cooking fat as ingredients needed for the Koopmans cinnamon mix it reviewed.
First decide which feature matters most for your baking plans. Then compare the preparation instructions, the quantity in each pack and the label for the specific variety.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and gluten-free options | Read the current ingredients list and allergen information, and check whether the specific variety is labelled gluten-free. | If I’m cooking for someone with an allergy, I want to know which ingredients and possible traces are listed on that particular pack. This label check is the top priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Minimal preparation | Check whether you need to add water or milk, eggs and cooking fat, and how many pancakes the pack makes. | When I’m making a busy Christmas breakfast, I want to prepare the batter without measuring out lots of separate ingredients. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this simple preparation. |
| Flavour and toppings | Choose between a plain base and a spiced variety, and check the ingredients in your toppings too. | If I want to choose the festive finishing touches myself, I don’t want the mix to dictate the flavour too much. Having the freedom to choose their own toppings matters most to around 19% of consumers. |
| Quantity and ingredients needed | Compare the pack weight, stated yield and anything else you’ll need for the batter and cooking. | If I’m cooking for several people, I want to make enough batter without having too much left over. Around 25% of consumers prioritise a suitable quantity and knowing what else they’ll need. |
‘Complete’ doesn’t tell you which allergens are in the mix, and ‘gluten-free’ doesn’t mean a product is also free from egg or milk. According to the product information, Koopmans Glutenvrij may contain egg and milk.
If you’re cooking for a guest with a relevant food allergy, read the ingredients list and allergen information on the pack you’ll actually be using.
A plain or cinnamon mix may need milk and eggs for the batter, while the complete varieties reviewed need water. You may also need cooking fat and toppings.
Before you buy, compare the preparation instructions with your baking plans: which ingredients do you already have, and how many pancakes is the pack intended to make?
For the shaker bottle it reviewed, PLUS says to use the batter as soon as it has been mixed with milk and not to store it. This instruction applies to that variety and not automatically to every mix.
Follow the instructions on your pack and make an amount of batter you can use as directed.
The Consumentenbond warns that the results of its pancake-mix test from November 2020 may be out of date. Ingredients or the product range may have changed since then.
Use a test like this as a prompt to check things such as sugar, salt or types of flour on the current label, not as a substitute for reading it.
Offers pancake mixes including complete, cinnamon and gluten-free varieties; preparation instructions vary by product.
According to Albert Heijn, its own-brand range includes plain, multigrain and wholemeal mixes.
The own-brand range includes plain and organic pancake mixes.
Offers plain mix in a box or shaker bottle, as well as a complete mix in a box.
ALDI lists Albona pancake mixes in plain and multigrain varieties.
Lidl Netherlands lists a 400 g original pancake mix.
These mixes offer options for a small batch, a multigrain base or a base you can finish yourself. When choosing, compare the pack, preparation instructions and allergen information for the variety you’ve picked.
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Consider this complete mix if you want to measure out very few ingredients for a smaller batch. 210 g pack; before cooking, check what else you need to add and read the allergen information, even if you only add water to the batter.
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This multigrain mix suits baking plans where you’ll finish the pancakes with your own toppings. 400 g pack; allow for extra ingredients in the batter and, if you have allergies, check the information for this variety.
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Choose this base if you want to decide whether to serve your pancakes with sweet or savoury toppings. 400 g pack; check how much milk, how many eggs and how much cooking fat the instructions call for, and read the allergen information.
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The shaker pack could suit a small batch if you’d rather not use a separate mixing bowl. 175 g pack; you’ll need milk for the preparation described. Check the yield and allergen information on the pack.
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The 100 g pack could be a good option if you only want to make a small amount. Before buying, check the preparation instructions, yield and ingredients; the preparation described also needs an egg.
No. The liquid you add to the batter doesn’t tell you which ingredients are already in the mix. So read the ingredients list and allergen information on the pack you’ve chosen, especially if you’re cooking for someone with an allergy.
As well as checking the gluten-free label, read the full allergen information and preparation instructions. According to the product information, the Koopmans mix labelled gluten-free that was reviewed may contain egg and milk; gluten-free doesn’t mean it’s free from these allergens.
Follow the instructions for the specific shaker bottle. For the plain shaker bottle it reviewed, PLUS says to use the batter as soon as it has been mixed with milk and not to store it.
According to the Voedingscentrum, store dry pancake mix in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed container. The Voedingscentrum says cooked pancakes can be kept in the fridge for two days or in the freezer for three months; cool leftovers quickly and don’t leave them out of the fridge for more than two hours.
